SCOTLAND.
A. meeting for the county of Argyll was held at Inverary, on the 30th of Mat month, to consider the present crisis. The Marquis of Breadalbane, who occupied the chair, urged upon the assembly that the landlords must
exert themselves to the utmost in finding employment for the poor, before they could apply to the. Government with any chance of success. The Marquis of Lorne thought that they had a claim on the Government for assistance in emigration and the improvement of the fisheries. It was. also but fair that a supply of food should be provided, as in Ireland, through the intervention of the Executive. Resolutions to the foregoing effect were unanimously agreed to.
A public meeting was held at Dundee, on Monday last, over which pre- sided the Provost, supported by Alr. Duncan, the Member for the borough, to memorialize the Government, with a request that the sliding scale be suspended during the present distress, and that the employment of grain in distilleries be prohibited. There was nothing remarkable in the speeches.; and the interest lies mainly in the evidence that the Free-trade movement is only asleep, not dead.
We subjoin an extract from the Daily News relative to the state of the Lowlands. Its correspondent is speaking of the county of Ayr- " Having, as is my general custom inquired of our most intelligent farmers re- specting the probable yield of agricultural produce of every kind; I believe the conclusions I have arrived at will be found near the troth. The result, on the whole, is sufficiently alarming; and unless large supplies can be obtained from America, prices must rise enormously; for I do not believe we have of grain crops within one quarter of an average. The turnips are the worst crop for many years; the beans very deficient; and the potatoes a total failure. All may not have the disease, or be rotten; but such a thing as a ripe potato is not to be seen. I have given them up entirely, for when boiled, they are merely a yellow solid lump, that must be most unwholesome. But even in th-at state, the quantity is trifling. One farmer, who has a fine farm, told me he had twenty-four acres, and that front what be had already raised, there was not one in ten not diseased; and I believe this to be generally the case. His seed potatoes were beautiful, having got them from Isla, where there was last year no disease; and they were for long most promising, but they have gone utterly. I know another excellent farmer who offered twenty-five acres to any man who would raise them and clear the land. In the high country, where last year the loss was trifling, they are this year as bad as in the low country. The oats, however, in the high country are very good, but the breadth of land sown on these districts is comparatively so inconsiderable, that this can have no perceptible effect. In short, it is my confident belief, that not for the last twenty years, taking into account the breadth of land under cul- tivation, has there been so small an aggregate yield of agricultural produce. No doubt wages are high, especially of masons, carpenters, and all out-door labour= generally, from the enormous railway expenditure, and erection of furnace.; houses for iron-workers, &c. There are other classes of labourers, however, whose wages have not been raised in proportion to the increase of the prices of provisions, who will suffer severely from the height they may attain without large foreign supply; and if cotton keeps up, weavers, and all dependent on work- ing up this great staple, must be in great difficulties."
At Dundee, on Friday the 2nd instant, a public meeting was held in the Town-hall, to consider the impediments which exist to the transfer of heritable property in Scotland, as well as the best means for simplifying the present mode. Provost Brown occupied the chair. Mr. Wallace, the late Member for Greenock, treated the assembly to a long explanatory dis- course, detailing the progress of inquiry on the subject; and he urged im- mediate efforts to obtain an improvement of the law. Resolutions to that end were carried. Lord Kinnaird having moved, and Mr. Duncan, M.P.', seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr. Wallace, the meeting broke up.
The people of Galloway have been astonished by a thunder-storm at the end of September. It occurred on Monday week, and lasted for many hours, accompanied by rain and hail; in some parts a great quantity of the latter fell, lying a foot deep on the ground. The lightning was very vivid.
There has been some serious flooding at Galashiels, the Tweed having beep greatly swollen from the quantity of rain which has recently fallen.
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